Flexible diaphragm construction



'ay 1, 1951 K. L. SCHAUS 2,5509% FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 17, 1947 FIG. 5. r-

Mr] L. flaaas Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT osmos- FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM CONSTRUCTIN Karl Lrschaus, Tempe, Application February 1'7, 1947,-Serial No. 729,055

The present invention deals with gas meters, and more'specifically with flexible diaphragms therefor, and methods of constructing the same. fMany types of present day gas meters and similar devices make use of a flexible diaphragm in frame adapted for attachment to internal stationary members of a gas meter, such frame carrying to one side of its opening a flexible body of suitable diaphragm material such as leather, or suitable synthetic substitutes therefor. It will be manifest that this material must be relatively im pervious to the flow of gas coming in contact with the diaphragm, and it will also be noted that the connection between the frame member and the diaphragm body must be of an air-tight nature; otherwise the diaphragm would be inoperative, or would occasion discrepancies in. the me ter reading due to the leakage of gas therethrough. Various methods and means have heretofor been used in securing the flexible diaphragm body to its-associated supporting frame, and generally involve the wrapping of twine or wire around the marginal edge of the diaphragm body after the same has been positioned uponan annular attachingmember of the frame, to provide a clamping action therebetween resulting in a tight connection. In contemplating such; methods, it will be seen that considerable difficulty is encountered in securing the respective ends of the twine or wire in a manner to maintain a tight closely fitting connection between the diaphragm body and the frame. Usually, where metallic wire is employed, the free ends are twisted together to furnish the necessary tightening and joining of the two members. In such a case a gap or tuck in the diaphragm material often results directly below the twisted ends,

' leaving a minute opening through which gas may escape. Also, the raw ends of the twisted wire often present a hazard to relatively soft diaphragm material in that the same may be accidentally punctured or torn during subsequent pul- 1 Claim. (Cl. 73--278) sating movement. The primary objection to, the. use of twine as a joining means is thediificulty. encountered in securing its respective ends and at the same time maintaining a tight fit between the members. ployed, but from the standpoint of wear and 0011-1 tinuous usage, it has been found that such a connection is prone to premature failure due to the deterioration of the adhesive caused by mechanical means and/or by chemical reaction or insta-v bility in the presence of the gas. Still another. method of attachment of the ends of the clampin'g member resides in the employment of -oo-.op-

eratively threaded contractal members carried upon the respective ends of a wire or twine, but

ible diaphragm for gas meters is in no-sense:

broadly new in the art and trade. It follows, therefore, that the primary object of this invenf tion is to improve generally upon known, pat-' ented and marketed constructions and methods; through the adoption and use of a flexible diaphragm employing as a means for forming an air-tight union-between the diaphragm body and its associated frame, a continuous band or ring, whereby the possibility of gaps or tucks forming between the diaphragm material and the attaching region of the frame is eliminated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for joining the re'spec'tiveme'mbers of the diaphragm to provide an air-tight connection therebetween.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more distinctly apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a ring type diaphragm for gas meters formed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken along a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating the method of assembly of the parts before looking Often a suitable adhesive isem-,

Referrng now to the drawings, it will be seen that the present improved flexible diaphragm makes use of a substantially flat metallic ringshaped base frame I I) formed with a perpendicularly projecting annular attaching region or flange I I, to which is secured, by means of a continuous annular band !2, the marginal edge portion 13 of a flexible diaphragm body M.

The flat base frame 10 is provided toward its peripheral edge with a plurality of spaced circular openings l5 which provide means for attaching the frame and its associated diaphragm head to stationary members of an associated gas meter.

In constructing the diaphragm the metallic base frame 16 is stamped from suitable sheet metal stock such as tin plate, stainless steel or aluminum. After stamping, the center portion of the blank is rolled outwardly to provide the perpendicularly projecting attaching flange l l, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing. At this time, the marginal edge portion i3 of the diaphragm body is positioned around the flange ll and the continuous annular band i2 is positioned over the outer surface of the marginal edge of the diaphragm body in closely abutting relation to the rear face of the base frame. It will be under- ,stood that this band may be formed from any suitable substantially non-resilient material such as wire, twine or a rigid metallic annulus. The configuration of this band may be varied in ac cordance with the'desired clamping surface, and may possess a rectangular configuration such as is shown at IT in Figure 5 0f the drawing. After the elements occupy their respective positions as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the outer region of the attaching flange l! is mechanically expanded by a suitable revoluble head, the outer edge thereof rolled or turned inwardly to form an annular groove 16 in the upper surface of the attaching flange in which resides the now tightly fitting annular band l2. In the initial formation of the continuous band 12, it will be understood that the diameter thereof must closely ap-' proximate that of the attaching flange i l in order that a limited expansion of the outer portion of the attaching flange will insure a closely fitting connection between the band, the marginal edge of the diaphragm body and the attaching flange.

It will be noted that due to the uniform crosssectional configuration of the annular band l2, a resulting smooth and close fitting connection will be obtained between the diaphragm body and the attaching flange of the base frame. This feature greatly increases the function of the clamping band over that of the previously described methods heretofore employed.

It will also be understood that the method of attaching the various members, namely, the base frame and the diaphragm body, will be applicable to various other devices and mechanisms involved in coupling or joining of annular flexible bodies to annular substantially non-flexible bodies. For instance, the coupling of flexible rubber hose to open metallic conduit members may be readily carried out by the methods herein described and claimed.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides highly improved and mechanically efficient flexible diaphragms for use in conjunction with gas meters, and further sets forth improved methods of constructing same. While certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in the foregoing specification, it will be manifest that certain modifications in details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the fOHOWiIlg claim.

I claim:

A flexible diaphragm comprising a rigid annular frame of integral one-piece construction formed with a radially and outwardly extending flat attaching web and an annular laterally projecting lip disposed in generally perpendicular relation to the flat attaching web and defining on said frame a circular opening, said lip being formed on the outer side thereof with a continuous annular groove, a flexible diaphragm body arranged to form a closed pocket with the. opening of said frame and having the marginal edge portion thereof overlying the outer surface of the lip of said frame and the annular groove formed therein, and a continuous uninterrupted and unyieldable annular band of uniform crosssectional configuration overlying the marginal edge portion of said diaphragm body and tightly occupying the groove formed in the lip of said frame.

KARL L. SCHAUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS. 

